To Do:

• If you haven’t already, add the Job Fair on April 10, 2017 to your calendar.  We’ll be meeting in Redmond at the fairgrounds from about 12:00 – 6:00pm again this year.
• As you likely remember, we are not meeting as a Horizontal group this month.  (Our meeting on the afternoon of Feb. 24 has been cancelled.)  What I ask you to consider doing instead is meet with your MS leader peers to talk about your role as a “lead learner.”  Things like, how are you modeling (your personal) learning at your school?  How are you learning alongside your teachers? How have you set up systems so groups of teachers can analyze, evaluate, problem-solve and be creative around the topic of student learning? What are some things you have done to create a culture of learning? We have much to learn from each other. But we often do not take the time to share ideas around the school leader(s) being a leader of learning – some of the most important work you do.  These aren’t discussions that we have often, but we should.  I challenge you to use the afternoon of Feb. 24 – or any other time in the next month that might work better – and talk with your colleagues about what it does/could look like to be a lead learner.  I recommend you stay in the same Horizontal group (Robi, Roger, Brian, Wendy – Scott, Brian U, Steph, Stephen D, Hayley – Chris, Lisa – Steve S, Teri) you have met with once previously and that have building admin teams meeting together.  If you need more guidance/direction around this topic please let me know as I’d love to help!

This and That:

• There is a first-time (to my knowledge) event happening next week that I am excited about and you are invited to attend.  I hear that our very own Mr. Stancliff will be kicking off the evening and that is something nobody should miss!  Here are the details:

  Latino Family Night, Feb. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Pilot Butte Middle School cafeteria

   The goal of this event is to connect with our Latino families, send the message that all families and students are welcome in our schools and to help Spanish-speaking families connect with resources.

• As you are fully aware, we are in the midst of a stretch in the school year that historically is one of the tougher times to maintain a positive attitude.  There is quite a bit of support for this belief when considering student behavior data (which I believe reflects not only on the student, but also the adults working with these students).  And although I know you are all very resilient people who put your best face on every morning, I am not naive enough to think that this does not take its toll on you as well.  With that in mind, I’ve included an article that contains some suggestions for social-emotional health of a school leader.  Although I can’t say I agree with every point the author suggests, I do believe it holds a number of assertions I would support and encourage you to reflect on.
• I aspire to be more like E.F. Hutton than not.  Remember those commercials?  “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.”  I don’t want to be the person that listeners have to filter what I say in order to search for something valuable.  Rather, I hope I listen more than I speak, and when I do talk it has some merit for those around me.  With that said, I would encourage you to take a few minutes to read this webpage that highlights a math professional development opportunity for your teachers.  I am no math curriculum expert, but from what I have read and learned about Jo Boaler and her mathematical teaching approaches, I believe any of our students (whether they believe they are “good at math” or not) would benefit from her approach to math instruction.  This PD costs $99, is offered over the summer of 2017, and is said to take approximately 30 hours to complete.  I’d encourage you to share this page/information with your staff and work with any that are interested in pursuing this opportunity.

Reminders:

• There is no school on Monday – enjoy Presidents’ Day and your three-day weekend!